WWE Strikes $25 Million Deal with NBCUniversal to Extend Monday Night Raw’s Broadcast Rights
In a surprising turn of events, WWE owners TKO Group Holdings have secured a lucrative short-term rights deal for the iconic Monday Night Raw. With NBCUniversal’s existing five-year broadcast rights agreement set to expire in September, fans were left to wonder about the future of their favorite wrestling show.
Securing the Future: TKO’s $25 Million Deal with NBCUniversal
The uncertainty surrounding Raw’s broadcasting rights was laid to rest when TKO announced a groundbreaking deal worth $25 million to continue airing the show on NBCU through the end of the year. This move ensures that Raw will continue to entertain fans on the USA Network until December.
Raw’s Transition to Netflix in January 2025
Following the end of the NBCUniversal deal, Raw is slated to make a significant transition to Netflix in January 2025, in a deal estimated to be valued at $5 billion. This change will bring Raw to a wider audience across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Latin America, among other regions.
Industry Leaders Applaud the Transformative Deal
TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro hailed the deal as “transformative,” emphasizing the monumental impact it will have on WWE’s global reach and exposure. WWE president Nick Khan commended Netflix for its storytelling prowess and expressed confidence in its ability to cater to Raw’s devoted fan base.
Continued Partnerships and Future Collaborations
Even with Raw’s departure from NBCU, the relationship between WWE and the network remains intact, with the announcement of Friday Night SmackDown moving to the USA Network in October 2024 under a new five-year deal worth $1.4 billion.
Expanding Offerings with Special Events and Streamlined Availability
NBC will also air multiple WWE specials annually, reinforcing its long-standing partnership with the wrestling entertainment giant. Furthermore, NBCU’s streaming service, Peacock, will continue to host the WWE Network until March 2026, cementing its status as a hub for premium WWE content.
As the wrestling landscape continues to evolve with dynamic partnerships and innovative deals, fans can look forward to an exciting future filled with their favorite WWE programming across various platforms.